Ready To Bring The Thunder

QUEENSLAND Raceways will rumble when Aussie motorsport legend Jim Richards welcomes the inaugural Shannons - Two Days Of Thunder.

Muscle car fans will have their first chance to see and hear Jim Richards' new V8 AMC Javelin driven in anger when he uncorks it over the Shannons Two Days of Thunder weekend at Queensland Raceway from June 23-24.

Richards, who is patron of the meeting, will be using the weekend to track-test the spectacular 360-ci 1972 Javelin in advance of round four of the 2012 Touring Car Masters series, which will support the V8 Supercar Championship at the Ipswich circuit in early August.

Considering it was conceived in the 1960s to take the fight up to the established Ford Mustangs and Chevrolet Camaros, AMC's Pony Car is a rare sight on circuits or drag strips anywhere today and Jim's Javelin is unique as the only one currently racing in Australia.

It will share garage and track duties at Shannons Two Days of Thunder with Richards' 1964 Falcon Sprint that took him to victory in the 2010 TCM series, while the spectacular 388kW Camaro SS 427 L88 formerly raced in the 1970s by Victoria's Bryan Thomson, will also be demonstrated at the meeting.

The weekend will see a full six-pack of muscle cars on track, with events for Group N (Historic) Touring Cars with a 30-car plus grid,

Trans-Am V8s, with a 20-car field, Muscle Car Sprints, a Cobra/GT40 Sprint Group, a new race group for Queensland V8s and Sports Sedans, a Porsche invitation race and Regularity events.

The event will showcase three cars from Powercruise, namely the Green 540 cube Chev HQ known as Elvis, the Kingswood Wagon and a highly modified R8.

Queensland Raceways media officer Richard Rawcliffe said it would be one of the most exciting weekends on the calendar.

"There are no flimsy cars here, only big, loud and fast cars, driven by guys who are not afraid to drive a car hard when the situation demands it," he said.

At the event there will also be plenty of action in the infield, with the Shannons Show 'n' Shine on the Sunday - including a track cruise for all entrants - and a big Muscle Car display by car clubs.

One of the most unusual vehicles at the meeting will be a replica of the XB Falcon Police Interceptor from the original Mad Max film, which will be the pace car for the Australian Trans-Am rolling-start races.

All visitors over the weekend who qualify for a Shannons quote on their special car, bike or home and contents, will go into the draw to win a Hot Lap with Jim Richards around Lakeside Park in a Porsche Carrera Cup race car in late July, with the winner drawn at 4pm on June 24.

The whole weekend will be run in a relaxed 'access all areas' atmosphere, allowing families and enthusiasts the chance to see some of Australia's fastest cars close-up and to chat with their drivers.

FAST FACTS

Entry to the Shannons Two Days of Thunder weekend at Queensland Raceway costs $20 on Saturday, $30 on Sunday or $40 for a weekend ticket.

Children 12 and under enter free, while students 13-16 and pensioners are $10 each day.